Eliana spent the afternoon exploring the ruined village, each discovery feeding her sense of adventure. Amongst the vines and crumbling walls were hints of the people who once lived here.

In a circular stone structure she guessed was an outdoor cooking area, remnants of charred wood and pottery suggested communal meals. A small courtyard held the remains of carved wooden playground structures, weathered with age. 

Deepest in the ruins, a partially collapsed longhouse caught her eye. Peering through a missing wall, shadows hinted at spaces within that had withstood centuries of nature's onslaught. Curiosity compelled her to try entering, testing crumbling bricks for stability before cautiously climbing through an opening.

Inside was murky but surprisingly intact compared to structures out in the elements. Rays of light shone down through missing roof thatches, illuminating dust motes drifting through still air. Along one wall, raised beds of stone remained, while along another were shelves carved into the living rock. A storage space, like she had seen in village homes, filled with secrets.

Kneeling to sift through centuries of dust and debris on the shelves, Eliana's searching hands met something smooth and round. Brushing aside layers revealed a perfect sphere, translucent like crystal but rose in color. She held it to the light, seeing swirling colors within its depths. What ancient mysteries did this orb hold? Tucking it into her pack with care, she took it as a gift from these long dead people. 

As the sun set golden outside, she reluctantly left her new discovery, mind swirling with questions about who lived and loved within these walls long ago. Perhaps the ruins' stories could help fill some of the emptiness within her heart as well.